Mystery donor drops off gold coin for Salvation Army

A South African gold coin valued was found at in a red kettle in Clarksville in 2011. The Salvation Army this year found another similar coin last week in a kettle at the Wal-Mart on Fort Campbell Boulevard.(Photo: File photo)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A gold coin was found last week inside a Salvation Army kettle at the Wal-Mart on Fort Campbell Boulevard.

Capt. Jimmy Steele with Clarksville's Salvation Army said members of the organization found this year's coin while counting the change collected at the Wal-Mart. They had the coin, a gold Krugerrand, appraised at about $540.

Last year, the local Salvation Army received a 1-ounce gold coin, which would be about double the value of this year's, Steele said.

The coins started showing up in the red kettles around Clarksville in 2007 and have popped up about every year since then.

In 2009 someone dropped a gold coin off at Clarksville Kroger. In 2010, one was dropped off at the Wal-Mart in Sango, and in 2011, one turned up at the Sam's Club.

"We don’t know what size the coin is or where's it's going to be," Steele said about the mystery donations.

Steele said the organization also not sure if it's the same person that's been making the generous donation every year.

The coins help boost the organization's fundraising efforts this time of year. Bell ringers are stationed at local grocery stores and the Governor's Square Mall throughout December.

Robert Burchett, current chair for the Salvation Army advisory board in Clarksville, said the organization started putting bell ringers outside of the stores a week before Thanksgiving this year to give them a little bit of a head start on the fundraising this year.

"This helps tremendously because this is our major fundraiser," Burchett said. "Depending on how many people we shelter, the money goes out pretty fast."

The bell ringers will be stationed outside the locations up until Dec. 24 to help make their fundraising goal.

"Right now, we're short of where our goal is," Steele said. "It’s going to help us get closer to where we need to be as far as the amount of money we’re trying to raise."

Burchett said he's also not sure if it's the same donor because this year's coin is in a different condition. Regardless, he said, the donation "is very much appreciated."

"Every little bit helps, and the gold coin is more than just a little bit," Burchett said.

Those interested in volunteering can also go to ringbells.org to find out how to serve as a bell ringer.